Today’s News

Starz to Offer Outlander First Episode a Week Early

Starz is making the first episode of its hotly anticipated series Outlanderavailable on Saturday, Aug. 2, one week before its scheduled worldwide Aug. 9 premiere, the network announced Friday at the Television Critics Association fall previews.

Outlander, based on the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon, stars Catriona Balfe as Claire Randall, a married combat nurse in 1945 who somehow falls through time and lands back in 1743. As the "sassenach," aka outlander, Claire finds herself not only befuddled, but also fearing for her life. She's forced to marry hunky Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), and their relationship soon heats up, which is problematic for her feelings for the husband she left behind.

Even though Outlander has not yet premiered, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht expects the franchise and network will enjoy a long partnership. "I keep reading the books. It is so good. Diana Gabaldon has given us years of great drama, and if ... fans get behind it ... I don't see any reason why we shouldn't take the same journey as Claire and Jamie and Brianna and Roger have had over centuries." So there you have it! Outlander will last at least 200 seasons.

For now, Outlander will split its freshman season into two equal parts. The first eight episodes will air on consecutive Saturdays at 9/8c starting on Aug. 9 and end on Sept. 27. The second half of the season will kick off sometime in early 2015.

In other Starz news, the network announced the premiere dates for its first unscripted series The Chair, which debuts on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 11/10c, and six-part comedy series Survivor's Remorse, which debuts Saturday, Oct. 4 at 9/8c.